Frequency Bands for

Meteorological Satellite (MetSat) Communications

and its Coordinated Use
among Meteorological Satellite Operators

presented by Markus Dreis

EUMETSAT

WMO - Workshop on Radio Frequencies for Meteorology

Geneva, 20 21 March 2006

Page 1

Allocated Frequency Bands for MetSat

in the ITU Radio Regulations (RR)

137 138 MHz (s-E)

400.15 401 MHz (s-E)

401 403 MHz (E-s)

460 470 MHz (s-E)

1670 1710 MHz (s-E)

2025 2110 MHz (E-s)

2200 2290 MHz (s-E)

7450 7550 MHz (s-E)

7750 7850 MHz (s-E)

8025 8400 MHz (s-E)

8175 8215 MHz (E-s)

18.1 18.3 GHz (s-E)

25.5 27 GHz (s-E)

WMO - Workshop on Radio Frequencies for Meteorology

Geneva, 20 21 March 2006

Secondary allocation
1670 1675 MHz no new MetSat use (Res. 670)
Space Operation (SO), Earth Exploration Satellite (EESS)
SO and EESS
RR Footnote 5.461A limits use to geostationary (GSO)
RR FN 5.461B limits use to non-geostationary (NGSO)
EESS with stringent PFD limits in Region 1 and 3
Subject to extension to 300 MHz at WRC-2007
EESS

Page 2

Typical applications in the Frequency Bands allocated to

the MetSat service (1)

137 138 MHz (s-E)

Dissemination of low rate data from NGSO MetSat

to user stations

401 403 MHz (E-s)

Data uplink from DCPs to GSO MetSat. The band is

divided into regional and international channels

1670 1710 MHz (s-E)

The band is divided into several parts and is used

for downlink of raw data, DCP data, dissemination

2025 2110 MHz (E-s)

Telecommand and ranging from main Earth and

uplink of processes data for dissemination

2200 2290 MHz (s-E)

Telemetry and downlink of raw data to main station

WMO - Workshop on Radio Frequencies for Meteorology

Geneva, 20 21 March 2006

Page 3

Typical applications in the Frequency Bands allocated to

the MetSat service (2)

7450 7550 MHz (s-E)

Downlink of medium rate raw data from GSO

MetSat to main Earth station (not used on current
generation MetSat systems)

7750 7850 MHz (s-E)

Downlink of raw data from NGSO MetSat to main

Earth station, but also dissemination

8025 8400 MHz (s-E)

Downlink of sensor data from GSO and NGSO

MetSat to main Earth station

18.1 18.3 GHz (s-E)

Downlink of high rate raw data to main Earth station

25.5 27 GHz (s-E)

Downlink of high rate raw data to main Earth station

(currently no plans for next generation MetSat)

WMO - Workshop on Radio Frequencies for Meteorology

Geneva, 20 21 March 2006

Page 4

Constellation of Meteorological Satellites

GOES-9
(USA)
200W

METOP-A
(EUMETSAT)
(launch 6/2006)

FY-1D
(CHINA)

GOES-10
(USA)
135W

MTSAT-1R
(JAPAN)
140E

FY-2B
(CHINA)
123.5E

FY-2C
(CHINA)
105E

GOES-11
(USA)
105W

GOES-12
(USA)
75W
NOAA-12,14,15,16,17,18
(USA)
METEOSAT-9
(EUMETSAT)
6.5W (currently in
commissioning)

INSAT 2-B
(INDIA)
111.5E

METEOR-3M-N1
(RUSSIA)

METEOSAT-8
(EUMETSAT) METEOSAT-7
(EUMETSAT) METEOSAT-6
3.4W
0 Longitude (EUMETSAT) INSAT 2-C
(INDIA)
10E
48E

INSAT 3-C
(INDIA)
74E

KALPANA-1
METEOSAT-5 (INDIA)
(EUMETSAT) 74E
63E

INSAT 3-A
(INDIA)
93.5E

FY-2A
(CHINA)
86.5E

INSAT 2-E
(INDIA)
83E
GOMS-N1
(RUSSIA)
76E

Different mechanisms to ensure the coordinated and

protected use of the spectrum for MetSat - Regulations

ITU-Radio Regulations:

Frequency Band Allocations to Space Radiocommunication Services such as

MetSat, Earth Exploration Satellite and Space Operation

Limitations in the RR to facilitate sharing with other services

Satellite Notification Procedure (in case of GSO with coordination with concerned
administrations; for NGSO there is no ITU coordination procedure !!!)

ITU-R Recommendations:

Definition of sharing, performance and interference criteria of the science services

in the framework of ITU-R Study Group 7

Determination of methods for sharing with the other allocated radio services

WMO - Workshop on Radio Frequencies for Meteorology

Geneva, 20 21 March 2006

Page 6

Different mechanisms to ensure the coordinated and

protected use of the spectrum for MetSat Other Fora

Space Frequency Coordination Group (SFCG):

Early coordination of frequency use for planned satellite systems

Agreements of principles on how to use the available spectrum for MetSat,

Earth Exploration Satellite and Space operation Service

WMO and its Steering Group on Radio Frequency Coordination:

Coordination between WMO Members for the use of frequency bands

allocated to meteorological activities in the framework of the World Weather
Watch (WWW) and their sharing with other radio communication services

Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS):

Not particularly dealing with frequency use, CGMS provides a forum for an
early coordination of future MetSat systems in all aspects of mission planning,
e.g. data formats, mutual cooperation and data/product exchange

WMO - Workshop on Radio Frequencies for Meteorology

Geneva, 20 21 March 2006

Page 7

Space Frequency Coordination Group (SFCG)

Mission Statement:
SFCG is the pre-eminent radio-frequency collegiate of
Space Agencies and related national and international organizations through
which global space systems spectrum resources are judiciously husbanded for
the benefit of humanity.

Objective:
The SFCG was established in order to provide a less formal and
more flexible environment, as compared to the official organs of the ITU for the
solution of frequency management problems encountered by member space
agencies.

Charter:
SFCG provides a forum for multilateral discussion and
coordination of spectrum matters of mutual interest concerning space
radiocommunication services, such as Space Research, Space operations,
Earth exploration satellite and the Meteorological satellite service.

WMO - Workshop on Radio Frequencies for Meteorology

Geneva, 20 21 March 2006

Page 8

What does SFCG do to make best use of the limited

spectrum available for MetSat, EESS and SO?
Examples:

RES A12-1R2:

SFCG Satellite Database

REC 12-4R3:

Methods for Reduction of Potential Interference

between Systems in the Space Science Service in
Densely Occupied Bands

RES 19-7R2:

Use of the 7750-7850 MHz Band by Non-GSO MetSat

REC 4-3R3:

Utilization of 2 GHz Band by Space Operation

REC 11-1R3:

Use of the Band 1670 - 1710 MHz for MetSat

Establishment of Procedures for Inter-agency

Frequency Coordination

WMO - Workshop on Radio Frequencies for Meteorology

Geneva, 20 21 March 2006

Page 9

Inter-Agency Frequency Coordination

in the Framework of SFCG (1)

Although the RR satellite notification procedure provides a good

mechanism to coordinate (at least for GSO) future satellite systems
with the concerned ITU member administrations, it does not always
provide the desired efficiency and flexibility to facilitate coordination
for the planned frequency spectrum use for MetSat, EESS and SO.

Specially in the early phase of the RR satellite notification procedure,

the advanced publication, this ITU-R process does not provide
sufficient transparency of the planned frequency use.

The RR satellite notification procedure does not foresee coordination

for NGSO systems.

WMO - Workshop on Radio Frequencies for Meteorology

Geneva, 20 21 March 2006

Page 10

Inter-Agency Frequency Coordination

in the Framework of SFCG (2)

To complement the RR satellite notification procedure of the ITU-R,

an inter-agency frequency coordination procedure was established in
the framework of SFCG (RES A12-1R2).

This inter-agency frequency coordination motivates SFCG members,

already at the very early stages of a mission design, to coordinate the
planned frequency use with concerned SFCG members with the aim
to minimize the potential radio spectrum interference to existing and
planned satellite systems.

SFCG member agencies involved in such a coordination process can

utilize the SFCG satellite database and provide update information on
existing and planned satellite systems.

WMO - Workshop on Radio Frequencies for Meteorology

Geneva, 20 21 March 2006

Page 11

Use of the Frequency Band 16751710 MHz

as agreed by the MetSat Operators in SFCG
SFCG Recommendation 111R3 recommends:
1. that the band 16751690 MHz be used for future main Earth stations at
relatively few fixed locations for reception of raw image data and data
collection from geostationary meteorological satellites;
2. that the band 1683-1690 MHz also be used for user stations for data
dissemination (GVAR and S-VISSR) from geostationary meteorological
satellites;
3. that the band 16901698 MHz be used for direct readout services, data
collection platform observations and data dissemination from geostationary
meteorological satellites to user stations;
4. that the band 16981710 MHz be used for direct readout and pre-recorded
image data transmissions from nongeostationary meteorological satellites.

WMO - Workshop on Radio Frequencies for Meteorology

Geneva, 20 21 March 2006

Page 12

Use of the Frequency Band 7750-7850 MHz by NGSO

MetSat systems as agreed by SFCG members
SFCG Resolution 197R2 resolves:
1.

that space agencies planning and operating MetSats develop procedures for
efficient use of the 7750-7850 MHz band that allows interference-free
reception of vital meteorological and environmental data;

2.

that direct readout transmissions be turned-off during passes of CDA stations

when in conflict with downlinks of stored mission data (data dump
transmissions);

3.

Invites members agencies when planning MetSat transmissions in this band to

develop among themselves operating schemes that permit interference-free
reception of data, including the need to interrupt direct broadcast
transmissions within the reception area of CDA stations (stored data dumps)
in case of conflict.

WMO - Workshop on Radio Frequencies for Meteorology

Geneva, 20 21 March 2006

Page 13